richardson



(N0 Modei.)

W. A. RICHARDSON.

DISGHARGING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS- No. 552,699. Patented Jan. 7, 1896.

FIZZ 5 21622 55555 ZZZ 11/512 2271 UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, OF \YORUES' PATENT OFFICE.

ER, )lASSACIII SETTS.

DlSGHARGlNG MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,699, dated January '7, 1896. Application tiled A ril 1, 1895. Serial No. 543,953. lilo motleLl To CLZZ whom it may concern:

lie it known that 1, VI LLIAM A. RICHARD- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Voreester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Disclmrging Mechanism for Firearms, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sutiieiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled. in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

My prcsentin vent ion relates to the peculiar construction of the tiring-pin and to the manner of combining the same with the frame and hammer in. arevolver or oihertirearm, the objects being to afford a simple and desirable struetn re that can be man u faetured with practical economy and conveniently assembled; also to render the tiringmechanism moreelli eient and capable of operation with light impact and a greater degree of certainty in its action upon the primers. These objeetslattain by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing my invention applied to a revolver. lrig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the upper part of the frame and the tiring pin from the rear, andthe positions of the tiring-pin head. Fig. 23 is a section horizontally through the tiring-pin and frame on an enlarged scale. l is a vertical section showing the firing-pin and adjacent parts with the iiring-pin projected forward. Fig. 5 shows, on larger scale, the form of the firing-pin in detail. Fig. (3 shows an end view and atransverse sectionof myimprovcd point for firingpins.

My improvements are applicable to discharging mechanism in other styles of lirearms, as well as for revolvers, the construction and arrangement of the tiring-pin and operating parts being substantially the same as herein described.

Referring to parts, A denotes the frame having the slot LL and contact-seat therein for the hammer 13, which latter is pivotedin the frame at bto swing back and forward in usual manner, it being operated by a suitable mainspring and trigger mechanism,which parts may be of well-known or any suitable kind.

indicates the cylinder, also of well-knmvn structure and operated by the usual or any suitable means.

D indicates the cartridge in the cylinder chamber or bore, having the primer d in po sition ready for discharge.

1 indicates the tiring-pin, which inaceordanee with my invention is constructed and combined for operation as here explained in detail. This tiring-pin. is formed with a central. body portion :3, having at one end an inward offset or shoulder l, and forwardly-extending smaller front bearing portion 3 terminating in a eonoidallyrounded point 5 adapted for indenting the primer (1. At the other end of said bod v portion 2 there is formed an outward olTset or spring-seating shoulder T and a larger rear bearing portion ll, upon the rear end of which I provide an oblong head or opposite side flanges S that project beyond the cylindrical surface of the portion (3, externally perpendicular to the axis of the pin. Two sides of the head are cut away parallel with each other and to the same dimension as the diameter of the part b, the edges at 9 being preferably inclined or beveled rearwardly inward, as indicated.

The inner face 10 of the flanged head is slightly inclined backward, so that the outer part of the flange is a. little thinner than the part next the bearing portion U. The inclined front surface it) of the flanges 8 contacts with the striker seat or surface on the frame to arrest the movement of the firing-pin when it is thrown forward, as when snapping the lock with the cylinder open or uncharged; and by making such surface inclined, as at 10, the contact and shock is caused to act at position close to the body of the pin, and the outer edge of the flanges are relieved from the shock or resistance, thus obviating liability of the head-flanges being scaled oif by constant snapping of the lock mechanism. On its outer end face the pin has a slightlyrounded boss ll, leaving flat marginal surfaces 1:3 on the rear of the head-flanges 8, as shown. The body portions 2, 3, and o are cylindrical in cross-section.

The conoidal point 5 of the firing-pin is best formed with a series of grooves or tinting 13, preferably three, out into the rounded surface thereof, commencing near the apex and extending longitudinally through the swell of the conoidal portion, (see Figs. 5 and [3,) thereby reducing the rounded surface and shaping the point with a series of small ridges ll having the conoidal contour and with intermediate relievingspaces 13, thus adapting the point 5, when indenting the primer (1, to draw or press in the metal with greater ease and ellicicney, so that the primer can be exploded with a lighter stroke of the hammer ll; also giving greater certainty of action and requiring less spring-tension for throwing down the hammer. Lonsequentl y a more easily worked mechanism can be produced. This formation also prevents the adhering of the point in the primers, and enables the firingpin to be more easily and certainly retracted by the retracting-spring. This peculiar formation of the point of the firing-pin is a feature of my invention, and may be successfully employed on firing-pins in other the arm structures than that herein shown.

The opening E in the frame A for the reception of the firing-pin F is formed asa circular hole having a diameter at its rear end the same or somewhat less than the width of the hammer-slot e, such diameter corresponding with that of the larger bearing portion 6 of the firingpin, while the forward part of said opening corresponds with the diameter of the smaller bearing portion 3 of the tiring-pin. A shoulder c is formed within the opening, leaving suiiicient metal about the point or smaller part of the opening to give ample strength and support to guide the pin and to withstand the firing service without material breaking out or deterioration.

'ithin the frame, at the sides of the hammer-slot a, at positions ad jaccntly coinciding with the tiring-pin, 1 form under-cut lateral recesses 15, the lateral dimension of which is sutficient to receive the (kingpin-head flanges 8, while the dimension of said recesses from front to rea requals the thickness of said head flanges 8 plus the extent of movement of the firing-pin action, so that when the head is pressed back against the tram c-lip 16 the point of the pin will be retracted within the frame. (See Fig. A spring I is arranged within the opening strained between the shoulders r and T for retracting the tiring-pin F.

The contact-face of the hammer B has a recess 17 for accommodating the firing-pin head and is fitted with flat surfaces 18 that strike the seat or square portion of the frame A above and below the firing-pin, the recess ailowing said firing-pin slight free space when the hammer-face 1S strikes the seat or solid. frame. This avoids injuring or breaking the flanges S of the firing-pin.

Inelines 230 are provided on the hammertace, that match the inclined surface 9 on the tiring-pin. head. Such inclines serve in conjunction to keep the firing-pin in proper position or to bring its oblong head into square transverse relation with'the side recesses in case it becomes slightly deviated therein. t

'When assembling the parts the firing-pin is introduced into its opening E through the hammer-slot (z with its oblong flanged head in upright position, as at .r", Fig. 2. Then, when entm'ed, it is turned or partially rotated so as to bring the oblong head into horizontal position, as at thus carrying the side flanges S into the recesses 15, whereby the firing-pin is confined by the flanges S engaging under the lip or overhanging part it) of the frame. The ilanged head of the firing-pin is allowed ample movement forward and backward wit itin the recess for effecting the discharge of the primer when the hammer falls. The spring I normally presses the tiring-pin back, so that its flat portion 12 rests against the lip 16 when the hammer is raised. Hence there is no tendency for the firing-pin to rotate out of position; but it can at any time be removed by turning its head upright in the hammer-slot.

'hat I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-arm, the combination of the frame having lateral under'c ut recesses at the sides of the hammer-seat and the firing-pin having an oblong head or side flanges that engage with said recesses, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fire-arm, the frame having the ham mer-slot therein, an openingthrough the hammer-seat of less diameter than the width of said hammer-slot, and lateral under-cut recesses from said hammer-slot formed in. the sides of the frame adjacent to said opening, in combination with the tiring-pin adapted to be entered through id hammer-slotand having side flanges that engage within said recesses; a spring for retracting said iiring-pin, and the hammer having its contact face fitted for striking the firing-pin and the hammerseat on the frame, as set forth.

3. The firing-pin provided with the latcn ally oblong head, the parallel edges of said head beveled, as at i in combination with the hammer having, in its contact face 1%, a recess 17 formed with inclined cud surfaces 2!? that embrace said beveled edges upon the tiring-pin head, for the purpose forth.

-i. The tiring-pin provided with projecting flanges upon its head, and having the front surface 10 on said flanges formed baehwardlv inclined, in combination with the stri her-seat having an opening in which said firingpin is supported for the purpose set forth.

5. A firing-pin having its head formed with projecting flanges 8, the central end surface of the head bossed or slightly rounded out ward, as at 1 l, and the rear side .12 of said flanges formed flat on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the firing-pin, in combination with the hammer and the frame having the hammerseat, the under-cut side recesses 15 and the retaining lips 16 against which said flanges are supported.

6. A tiring-pin for fire-arms, having a conoidally rounded point provided with a series of fiutings in its indenting end surface.

7. A firing-pin for fire-arms, provided with itness my hand this 29th day of March, a conoidally rounded point, having its round- A. D. 1895. ed surface reduced by depressiens or cut-away spaces extending from near the apex back \VILLIAM A. RICHARDSON. 1111-0 ugh the swell 0f the eonoidal portion, and

with full ridges forming the rounded eonuidel \V imesses:

end surfaee between such reduced spaces, CHAS. II. BURLEIUH,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth. ELLA P. BLENUS. 

